Lift Assist Work Belt Device

ABSTRACT

A lift assist work belt device for facilitating manual transport of a load includes a work belt, which comprises a back portion and a front portion. The back portion and the front portion are selectively mutually engageable to secure the work belt around a waist of a user. A pad, which is attached to an inner surface of the back portion, cushions a back of the user and enhances support to the back that is provided by the work belt. A pair of prongs is attached to the front portion and protrudes outwardly from the work belt upon donning of the work belt by the user. The prongs engage a lower surface of a load carried by the user to shift a center of gravity of the load toward the user.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Not Applicable

(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to work belt devices and more particularly pertains to a new work belt device for facilitating manual transport of a load. The present invention discloses a work belt device comprising a harness that incorporates a padded back brace and a plurality of hinged prongs in its belt portion.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to work belt devices. Prior art work belt devices may comprise harnesses with attachable or hingedly attached trays, belts with hingedly attached plates, belt and suspender combinations supporting a plate, and lift assist devices that are configured for attachment to belts. What is lacking in the prior art is a work belt device comprising a harness that incorporates a padded back brace and a plurality of hinged prongs in its belt portion.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a work belt, which comprises a back portion and a front portion. The back portion and the front portion are selectively mutually engageable to secure the work belt around a waist of a user. A pad, which is attached to an inner surface of the back portion, is configured to cushion a back of the user and to enhance support to the back that is provided by the work belt. A pair of prongs is attached to the front portion and protrudes outwardly from the work belt upon donning of the work belt by the user. The prongs are configured to engage a lower surface of a load carried by the user to shift a center of gravity of the load toward the user.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a lift assist work belt device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new work belt device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9 , the lift assist work belt device 10 generally comprises a work belt 12, which comprises a back portion 14 and a front portion 16. The back portion 14 and the front portion 16 are selectively mutually engageable to secure the work belt 12 around a waist of a user. A pair of first fasteners 18 is attached to the back portion 14, with each first fastener 18 being positioned proximate to a respective opposed end 20 of the back portion 14. A pair of second fasteners 22 is attached to the front portion 16, with each second fastener 22 being positioned proximate to a respective opposing end 24 of the front portion 16. The second fasteners 22 are complementary to the first fasteners 18 so that each second fastener 22 is positioned to selectively engage an associated first fastener 18 to secure the work belt 12 around the waist of the user.

The second fastener 22 and the associated first fastener 18 may comprises a hook and loop fastener 26, or other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, side release buckles and the like. As shown in FIG. 1 , the pair of second fasteners 22 comprises a first element 28 of a hook and loop fastener 26, which extends substantially between the opposing ends 24 of the front portion 16.

A pad 30, which is attached to an inner surface 32 of the back portion 14, is configured to cushion a back of the user and to enhance support to the back that is provided by the work belt 12. A pair of prongs 34 is attached to the front portion 16 and protrudes outwardly from the work belt 12 upon donning of the work belt 12 by the user. The prongs 34 are configured to engage a lower surface 36 of a load 38 that is being carried by the user to shift a center of gravity of the load 38 toward the user, which makes it easier for the user to bear the load 38.

Each prong 34 is hingedly attached to the front portion 16 so that the prong 34 is selectively positionable in a stowed configuration, as shown in FIG. 3 , and a deployed configuration, as shown in FIG. 2 . In the stowed configuration, the prong 34 abuts the front portion 16, while in the deployed configuration, the prong 34 extends from the front portion 16. The prongs 34 are arcuate and thus are configured to hook to a load 38 that has a nonplanar lower surface 36, such as, for example, an ottoman, a chair, or the like.

A coating 40, which is resiliently compressible, is attached to the pair of prongs 34 and is configured to frictionally engage the lower surface 36 of the load 38 and to reduce damage, such as scratching, to the load 38. The coating 40 comprises rubber, silicone, elastomer, or the like.

A pair of straps 42 is attached to and extends between the back portion 14 and the front portion 16 of the work belt 12. The straps 42 are configured to be positioned on shoulders of the user to distribute a weight of the load 38 between the shoulders and the back of the user. The straps 42 are mutually attached and cross proximate to the back portion 14, as shown in FIG. 6 . Each buckle 44 of a pair of buckles 44 is attached to a respective strap 42 and is positioned to selectively attach to the respective strap 42. The buckle 44 thus is positioned to adjust an effective length 46 of the respective strap 42, allowing the pair of straps 42 to be sized to the user.

In use, lift assist work belt device 10 is donned by the user by positioning the straps 42 over their shoulders and the back portion 14 and the front portion 16 of the work belt 12 around their waist. The work belt 12 is secured in place using the hook and loop fasteners 26. The user then can hinge the prongs 34 to the deployed configuration. Upon lifting a load 38, the user can rest the load 38 on the prongs 34 to shift a center of gravity of the load 38 toward the user.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

1. A lift assist work belt device comprising: a work belt comprising a back portion and a front portion, the back portion and the front portion being selectively mutually engageable for securing the work belt around a waist of a user; a pad attached to an inner surface of the back portion, wherein the pad is configured for cushioning a back of the user and for enhancing support to the back provided by the work belt; and a pair of prongs attached to the front portion, such that the prongs protrude outwardly from the work belt upon donning of the work belt by the user, wherein the prongs are configured for engaging a lower surface of a load carried by the user for shifting a center of gravity of the load toward the user, each prong being hingedly attached to the front portion, such that the prong is selectively positionable in a stowed configuration wherein a free end of the prong abuts the front portion, and a deployed configuration wherein the prong extends from the front portion, a surface of each prong facing the first portion in the stowed configuration being concave, the surface of each prong facing the first portion in the stowed position being an arc less than 180 degrees.
 2. The lift assist work belt device of claim 1, further including: a pair of first fasteners, each first fastener being attached to the back portion proximate to a respective opposed end of the back portion; and a pair of second fasteners, each second fastener being attached to the front portion proximate to a respective opposing end of the front portion, the second fasteners being complementary to the first fasteners, such that each second fastener is positioned for selectively engaging an associated first fastener for securing the work belt around the waist of the user.
 3. The lift assist work belt device of claim 2, wherein the second fastener and the associated first fastener comprise a hook and loop fastener.
 4. The lift assist work belt device of claim 3, wherein the pair of second fasteners comprising a first element of a hook and loop fastener extending between the opposing ends of the front portion.
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. The lift assist work belt device of claim 1, further including a coating attached to the pair of prongs, the coating being resiliently compressible, wherein the coating is configured for frictionally engaging the lower surface of the load and for reducing damage to the load.
 8. The lift assist work belt device of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises rubber, silicone, or elastomer.
 9. The lift assist work belt device of claim 1, further including a pair of straps attached to and extending between the back portion and the front portion of the work belt, wherein the straps are configured for positioning on shoulders of the user for distributing a weight of the load between the shoulders and the back of the user.
 10. The lift assist work belt device of claim 9, wherein the straps are mutually attached and cross proximate to the back portion.
 11. The lift assist work belt device of claim 9, further including a pair of buckles, each buckle being attached to a respective strap and positioned for selectively attaching to the respective strap, such that the buckle is positioned for adjusting an effective length of the respective strap.
 12. A lift assist work belt system comprising: a work belt comprising a back portion and a front portion, the back portion and the front portion being selectively mutually engageable for securing the work belt around a waist of a user; a pad attached to an inner surface of the back portion, wherein the pad is configured for cushioning a back of the user and for enhancing support to the back provided by the work belt; a pair of prongs attached to the front portion, such that the prongs protrude outwardly from the work belt upon donning of the work belt by the user; and a load supported upon the prongs such that the prongs are engaged to a lower surface of the load and a center of gravity of the load is shifted toward the user.
 13. A lift assist work belt device comprising: a work belt comprising a back portion and a front portion, the back portion and the front portion being selectively mutually engageable for securing the work belt around a waist of a user; a pair of first fasteners, each first fastener being attached to the back portion proximate to a respective opposed end of the back portion; a pair of second fasteners, each second fastener being attached to the front portion proximate to a respective opposing end of the front portion, the second fasteners being complementary to the first fasteners, such that each second fastener is positioned for selectively engaging an associated first fastener for securing the work belt around the waist of the user, the second fastener and the associated first fastener comprising a hook and loop fastener, the pair of second fasteners comprising a first element of a hook and loop fastener extending substantially between the opposing ends of the front portion; a pad attached to an inner surface of the back portion, wherein the pad is configured for cushioning a back of the user and for enhancing support to the back provided by the work belt; a pair of prongs attached to the front portion, such that the prongs protrude outwardly from the work belt upon donning of the work belt by the user, wherein the prongs are configured for engaging a lower surface of a load carried by the user for shifting a center of gravity of the load toward the user, each prong being hingedly attached to the front portion, such that the prong is selectively positionable in a stowed configuration, wherein the prong abuts the front portion, and a deployed configuration, wherein the prong extends from the front portion, a surface of each prong facing the first portion in the stowed configuration being concave, the surface of each prong facing the first portion in the stowed position being an arc less than 180 degrees; a coating attached to the pair of prongs, the coating being resiliently compressible, wherein the coating is configured for frictionally engaging the lower surface of the load and for reducing damage to the load, the coating comprising rubber, silicone, or elastomer; a pair of straps attached to and extending between the back portion and the front portion of the work belt, wherein the straps are configured for positioning on shoulders of the user for distributing a weight of the load between the shoulders and the back of the user, the straps being mutually attached and crossing proximate to the back portion; and a pair of buckles, each buckle being attached to a respective strap and positioned for selectively attaching to the respective strap, such that the buckle is positioned for adjusting an effective length of the respective strap. 